changes to national codes (nbc/nfc) and fire alarm and ... ottawa/cfaa presentation.pdf ·...

6/19/2015

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Changes to National Codes (NBC/NFC) and Fire Alarm and Detection Systems

Marc Fortin, Technical Advisor – Fire Safety, Use and Egress

NRC Canadian Codes Centre

May 14, 2015

Outline

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• Introduction

• Changes for the 2015 Codes

• Outstanding and upcoming issues

• Code development process

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Outline

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• Introduction




Introduction

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• Code Cycle 2010-2015– Four public reviews held in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014

• Including two proposed updates of referenced Standards (2012 and 2014)

– Publication of the 2015 National Model Codes: Dec. 2015

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Introduction

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• Code Cycle 2015-2020– CCBFC

• new membership will be approved Sep. 2015

– Standing Committees

• Membership approved

• First meeting held

Introduction

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• Code Cycle 2015-2020– UE related Tasks

• Fire Alarm Systems

• Accessibility, vulnerable population and demographic change

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Outline

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• Introduction




Changes for the 2015 Codes

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CAN/ULC-S1001, “Integrated Systems of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems”

• New reference within the NBC– Part 3 (new Subsection 3.2.9.)

– Part 9

• And within the NFC

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CAN/ULC-S540, “Residential Fire and Life Safety Warning Systems”

• Allowed to be used in lieu of the currently required interconnected smoke alarms− In dwelling units

− Small care occupancies


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CAN/ULC‐S561, “Installation and Services for Fire Signal Receiving Centres and Systems”

• Clarifies that conformity to CAN/ULC‐S561 entails conformity with the fire alarm system components required in the standard

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Use of the voice communication system and fire alarm System

• Audible signal must be silenced during communication

• Visible signal alarm devices must continue signaling during voice communication transmission


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Common Intelligibility scale (CIS) • introduced in 2010• Growing body of knowledge

and experience show that– CIS level of 0.70 is an

unachievable target

• NBC 2015– CIS level of 0.7 will be removed

from the body of the NBC– Information will be provided in the Appendix

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Electromagnetic Locks (EMLs)

• Expand the use EMLs in treatment and care occupancies− Released by a manual station installed within 0.5 m

− equipped with an auxiliary contact, which directly releases the EML

• Access from a stairwell into crossover floors facilitated by allowing the use of EMLs − released by a manual station on the stair side


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ULC Standards on fire alarm and life safety equipment and systems to be referred

Standard year Codes

CAN/ULC-S524 Installation of Fire Alarm Systems 2014 NBC

CAN/ULC-S526 Visible Signal Devices for Fire Alarm Systems, Including Accessories

2007 NBC

CAN/ULC-S531 Smoke- Alarms 2014 NBCNFC

CAN/ULC-S536 Inspection and Testing of Fire Alarm Systems

2013 NFC

CAN/ULC-S537 Verification of Fire Alarm Systems 2013 NBC

CAN/ULC-S540 Residential Fire and Life Safety Warning Systems

2013 NBC

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ULC Standards on fire alarm and life safety equipment and systems referred

Standard year Codes

CAN/ULC-S552 Inspection, Testing and Maintenance and Testing of Smoke Alarms

2014 NFC

CAN/ULC-S553 Installation of Smoke- Alarms 2014 NBCNFC

CAN/ULC-S561 Installation and Services for Fire Signal Receiving Centres and Systems

2013 NBCNFC

CAN/ULC-S572 Photoluminescent and Self-Luminous Signs and Path Marking Systems

2010 NBC

CAN/ULC-S1001 Integrated Systems Testing of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems

2010 NBCNFC


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Reality of cascading reference standards

Alberta has just adopted the ABC 2014

Which is based on the NBC 2010

Which refers to the CAN/ULC-S524-2006

Which refers to the CAN/ULC-S525-1999

However, ULC released the new edition of ULC-S525 in 2014

a 15-year gap!

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Outline

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• Introduction




Outstanding and upcoming issues

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Fire alarm systems in homes

• Introduced NFC requirements for maintenance and testing of residential warning systems

• Heat alarm devices– In attached garages

– Introduction of ULC-S539 on heat alarm

• Allowed wireless interconnected smoke alarms

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Outstanding and upcoming issues

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Deaf and hard-of-hearing population• Many devices exist– Visible signals (various intensities)– Low frequency audible signals (520 Hz)– Bed and pillow shakers

• Where should these devices be required?

• Connectivity of these devices – Fire alarm systems– Smoke alarm systems

Outline

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• Introduction




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Code development process

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What’s the process?

• Code Change Request (CCR)

• Standing committees review/analysis

• CCBFC approval

• Publication of new edition of codes

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Code change request (CCR)

• Can originate from anyone

• Inclusion is not automatic

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Standing committees review/analysis

Step 1.

• Define or validate what the problem is

• What is the issue or need that this proposal will address?

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Is the issue within the

scope of the National Model

Codes?

What is the minimum

achievable?

Is there a need for regulation?

Is this enforceable or measurable?



Step 2.

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Step 3.

• Assess the priority

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Fits under existing priority Yes ■ No □

Widespread issue ■ Local issue □

Serious concern □ Low risk/low probability ■

Likely to occur □ Rare to occur ■

Industry, P/T support ■ Individual, isolated issue

□

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Step 4.

• Assess the effort, and

• how the change willbe developed

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Task Group• face-to-face

meetings• external

expertise• Complex

issues

Working Group

• limited to SC members

• teleconferences• limited in time

Minor Task

• not controversial

• not complex• minor cost• no effort


Requirement must be developed considering:

• Be within the scope of the code (objectives)

• Identify a minimum acceptable solution

• Address issues that need to be regulated

• Be enforceable/measurable(at the time of construction)

• Satisfy cost-benefit analysis

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Questions?

www.nationalcodes.ca

Thank you

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